Guide to the Wallace Gendron Papers
1941-1945

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Overview of the Collection

Creator: Gendron, Wallace
Title: Wallace Gendron Papers
Dates: 1941-1945 ( inclusive )
Quantity: 5.5 linear feet (11 boxes)
Collection Number: HTM_WCMss35
Summary: Aerial photographs depicting Allied operations in Europe during World War II and personal memorabilia collected by Wallace Gendron. Correspondence and photos of Walla Walla Air Base.
Repository: Whitman College and Northwest Archives

345 Boyer Avenue
Walla Walla, WA 99362
(509) 527-5922
archives@whitman.edu
http://www.whitman.edu/archives

Languages: Materials are in English 

Biographical Note

Born March 4, 1923 in Berlin, N.H., Mr. Gendron served in the U.S. Army Air Forces during World War II. He moved to Portland, OR after the war and was a salesman and manager for several companies. He married Alicia Frances Niebergall, a native of Walla Walla whom he met while stationed at Walla Walla Air Base, in 1945. He died June 19, 2001.

Content Description

Photographs of World War II (1941-45) era, featuring aftermath photos of bombing raids carried out by Army Air Force pilots. Gendron, an Army Air Force photographer, would follow up on bombing raids, showing the results of air attacks on German targets. Personal memorabilia collected by Gendron during his three years of service, including a survival kit issued to soldiers in the event they are captured. Correspondence and photos of Walla Walla Air Base.

Use of the Collection

Restrictions on Access :  

Collection is open to the public.

Restrictions on Use :  

Researchers are responsible for using in accordance with 17 U.S.C. for copyright not held by Whitman College.

Preferred Citation :  

Wallace Gendron Papers, Whitman College and Northwest Archives.

Administrative Information

Arrangement :

Arranged into series by item.

Location of Originals :  

Acquisition Information :  

Donated to Whitman College Archives and Special Collections by Wallace Gendron between 1989 and 1991.


Detailed Description of the Collection

The following section contains a detailed listing of the materials in the collection.

Series 1:  Photographs of damage to German towns, factories, and other military targets during World War II, 1941-1945
1 linear foot  :  2 boxes
Container(s)
Description
Dates
Box/Folder
1/1 Altenbeken Viaduct (1 photo) Undated
1/2 Amberg Ord. Depot (2 photos) Undated
1/3 Arnsberg (4 photos) Undated
1/4 Aschaffenburg (9) Undated
1/5 Aschenslenben (8) Undated
1/6 Banburg R.R (1) Undated
1/7 Bayreuth (1) Undated
1/8 Bernburg (6) Undated
1/9 Bielefeld (2) Undated
1/10 Bingen (3) Undated
1/11 Boblingen (3) Undated
1/12 Bochum (4) Undated
1/13 Bottrop Oil (5) Undated
1/14 Bremen (6) Undated
1/15 Brunswick (5) Undated
1/16 Clausthal-Zellerfeld (2) Undated
1/17 Cologne/Gremburg (5) Undated
1/18 Cologne Cathedral (3) Undated
1/19 Dortmund Coke (7) Undated
1/20 Dulman G.A.F. Fuel (1) Undated
1/21 Dulmen (1) Undated
1/22 Eipzig (1) Undated
1/23 Eisenach (1) Undated
1/24 Erfurt Bindersleben (4) Undated
1/25 Emmenich Oil (2) Undated
1/26 Erfurt/Nord (1) Undated
1/27 Erfurt Radar Inst. (2) Undated
1/28 Eschwege (3) Undated
1/29 Fallersleben (4) Undated
1/30 Flak Bat. (1) Undated
1/31 Frankfurt (1) Undated
1/32 Friedrichshafen (1) Undated
1/33 Fulda (5) Undated
1/34 Furth (3) Undated
1/35 Gaggenan (3) Undated
1/36 Gardelegen (6) Undated
1/37 Gelsenkirchen Oil (4) Undated
1/38 Gera (6) Undated
1/39 German Farm House (1) Undated
1/40 Giebelstadt (2) Undated
1/41 Giessen (2) Undated
1/42 Gotha (15) Undated
1/43 Gottingen (6) Undated
1/44 Gutersloh (2) Undated
1/45 Guttingen (1) Undated
1/46 Halberstadt (10) Undated
1/47 Halle (4) Undated
1/48 Hallendorf (3) Undated
1/49 Hamburg (20) Undated
1/50 Hamm (4) Undated
1/51 Hambur Deutsche Petrol (3) Undated
1/52 Hanau (2) Undated
1/53 Hanau Dunlop (1) Undated
1/54 Hanau Henaeus (1) Undated
1/55 Hanover [Hannover] (1) Undated
1/56 Hanburg (6) Undated
1/57 Hanburg Oil (8) Undated
1/58 Hemmingstedt Oil (4) Undated
1/59 Hildesheim (3) Undated
1/60 Hitzacker Oil (3) Undated
1/61 Hopsten (1) Undated
1/62 Ijmuiden (2) Undated
1/63 Jena-Carl Ziess (2) Undated
1/64 Kaiserslautern (3) Undated
1/65 Karlsruhe (8) Undated
1/66 Kassel Altenbuata Areo Eng. (2) Undated
1/67 Kassel Henschel Works (1) Undated
1/68 Kassel Loco-Works (4) Undated
1/69 Kassel RR Shops (3) Undated
1/70 Kassel RR Station (1) Undated
1/71 Kassel Walpau Fighter Assem (1) Undated
1/72 Kaiserslautern (4) Undated
1/73 Kiel (6) Undated
1/74 Kitzingen (3) Undated
1/75 Koblenz Mosel (10) Undated
1/76 Kothen (6) Undated
1/77 Kriensen (1) Undated
1/78 Krummel Ammo (2) Undated
2/1 Laacher See (1) Undated
2/2 Lachen/Speyerdorf (1) Undated
2/3 Leipzig-Erla (11) Undated
2/4 Leuna (3) Undated
2/5 Leverkeusen (3) Undated
2/6 Lagendleroch (1) Undated
2/7 Lutzkendorf (7) Undated
2/8 Magdeburg (3) Undated
2/9 Memmingen (1) Undated
2/10 Merseburg (8) Undated
2/11 Meschede (1) Undated
2/12 Nurnburg M.A.N. (15) Undated
2/13 Minden (1) Undated
2/14 Misburg (1) Undated
2/15 Munich (13) Undated
2/16 Munster (4) Undated
2/17 Munster (Canal) (1) Undated
2/18 Neumarkt (1) Undated
2/19 Neuwied (2) Undated
2/20 Nordhausen (4) Undated
2/21 Northampton, UK (1) Undated
2/22 Oldenburg (1) Undated
2/23 Oschersleben (5) Undated
2/24 Osnabruck (5) Undated
2/25 Padernborn (4) Undated
2/26 Pforzheim (1) Undated
2/27 Plantlumne (1) Undated
2/28 Plauen (6) Undated
2/29 Rastatt (9) Undated
2/30 Remagen Br (1) Undated
2/31 Rheine (2) Undated
2/32 Rheine Bridges (2) Undated
2/33 Roth (2) Undated
2/34 Rothenburg (4) Undated
2/35 Rothensee (4) Undated
2/36 Rudesheim (1) Undated
2/37 Saarbrucken (8) Undated
2/38 Schulan Oil (2) Undated
2/39 Schaffenburg (2) Undated
2/40 Siegen (4) Undated
2/41 Sinzig (2) Undated
2/42 Sleaford (UK) (1) Undated
2/43 Soest (2) Undated
2/44 Spaulding (UK) (1) Undated
2/45 Speyer (2) Undated
2/46 Speyer Bridge (1) Undated
2/47 Stade (1) Undated
2/48 Stenkrade Oil (5) Undated
2/49 Trier Bridge (1) Undated
2/50 Ulm (5) Undated
2/51 Vegesack (3) Undated
2/52 Waggum (3) Undated
2/53 Wenzendorf (3) Undated
2/54 Wesermunde (4) Undated
2/55 Wetzlar (3) Undated
2/56 Wilhelmshaven (14) Undated
2/57 Wurzburg (7) Undated
2/58 Zietz (10) Undated
2/59 Zurschenrhon (2) Undated

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Series 2:  Memorabilia from WW II service; pamphlets, publications, photos of various aircraft of the period. Walla Walla Airbase photos and memos, 1941-1945
2.5 linear feet  :  5 boxes
Container(s)
Description
Dates
Box/Folder
3/1 Pocket Atlas of the World. W. & A.K. Johnston Ltd. London Undated
3/2 The 8th Sees England. Jack H. Bozurg, ed. and pub. 1946
3/3 The Story of the U.S. Army Air Force by Jim Ray 1945
3/4 Target: Germany. The U.S. Army Air Force official story of the 8th Bomber Command’s first year over Europe 1944
3/5 Technical Manual. Interpretation of Aerial Photographs. War Dept. 1942 December 31
3/6 100 Best True Stories of World War II. Wm H. Wise & Co., Inc. 1945
3/7 The War’s Best Photographs. Odhams Press Ltd. Undated
3/8 New Testament. Roman Catholic Version (U.S. Army) 1942
3/9 The Destruction of Germany Through Air Power. Aero Camera and Pub. Co. Undated
3/10 The Battle of Britain August-October 1940. Ministry of Information on behalf of the Air Ministry 1941
3/11 Prayer Book for Catholic Servicemen. The National Catholic Community Service. 1943
3/12 My Military Missal. Edited by Father Stedman 1941
3/13 A Short Guide to Great Britain. War and Navy Dept. Undated
3/14 French Phrase Book 1943 September 28
3/15 Of Dirty Stories. By Daniel A. Lord, S.J. 1935
3/16 A Salute to the Men in Service. Daniel A. Lord, S.J. 1942
4/1 If You Should Be Captured These Are Your Rights. War Dept. Pamphlet No. 21-27 1944 May 16
4/2 British Edition of “Yank” Vol. 3, No. 48 1945 May 18
4/3 Norwich Cathedral, by E.C. LeGrice, F.R.P.S. Undated
4/4 Salvo: Rosewell Army Air Field. V. 4 #13 (22 September 1945), V. 4 #12 (15 September 1945), V. 4 #10 (1 September 1945), V. 4 #9 (25 August 1945), V. 4 #14 (29 September 1945), V. 4 #11 (8 September 1945) 1945 August 25-1945 September 29
4/5 Air Force. The Official Service Journal. Article: Aerial Mapping for Invasion 1945 September
4/6 Walla Walla Eagle Vol. 2 No. 1 1943 June 29
4/7 The Stars and Stripes. London Ed., Vol. 5 No. 158, "Germany Quits." 1945 May 8
4/8 Boston Sunday Advertiser Pictorial Review. Memorial Ed. To F. D. Roosevelt, 1882-1945. 1945 April 15
4/9 Magazine Article on Aerial War Photography Undated
4/10 Program: Skirts. American Musical Adventure in 15 Scenes Undated
4/11 Magazine Article: The Fightingest Fortress Suzy-Q, Boeing News 1943 March
4/12 Typed Copy: An English Girl's Lament Undated
4/13 Issue of Daily Bulletin #448 1945 May 19
4/14 Duffel Bag Content List for W. Gendron 1945 June 22
4/15 Propaganda Material Dropped over Germany Undated
4/16 Sets of Orders for W.R. Gendron Undated
4/17 Dwight D. Eisenhower, Supreme Headquarters Allied Expeditionary Forces, note to "Soldiers, Salutes, & Airmen of the Allied Expeditionary Forces!" Invasion of Europe 1944 June
4/18 Photos of Wycomba Abbey Undated
4/19 The Honor Legion, by Francis P. Schiavone, 1st pub. 1917 Undated
4/20 Pocket Reference Guide: Army, Navy, Marine Corps Insignia 1943
4/21 Postcard Pocket: 2. Coronation of King George VI & Queen Elizabeth Undated
4/22 U.S. Army Air Forces Post Cards Undated
4/23 Stars and Stripes, Vol. 5 No. 15 1944 November 18
4/24 "The Wings of War," National Geographic Vol. 185, No. 3 1994 March
5/1 Map of Germany Highlighting Areas of Bomb Strikes Undated
5/2 Packet of 6 Photos, War's End in Europe, General Wm. Kepner and Hodges Saying Goodbye to Staff. 1944
5/3 Victorian Memorial in Front of Buckingham Palace 1945 February 2
5/4 "This is the Army," London Photograph of stage show 1944
5/5 5 Photos: Sporting events in England During WWII Undated
5/6 Photos of Ceremonies Returning Air Base to England after War Undated
5/7 Photos of unidentified Servicemen Undated
5/8 Wallace Gendron I.D. cards from Days at WW Airbase & Postcards from Family Undated
5/9 B-24 Aircraft photos Undated
5/10 Photos of Aircraft Shot Down Undated
5/11 Various Photos of European Theatre, Including Some from D-Day and Liberation of Holland Undated
5/12 Photos of P-47 Fighter Aircraft Undated
5/13 "Dropping Supplies in Holland" Undated
5/14 Glider Troops: D-day, France 1944 June 6
5/15 Four Photos of B-17 Aircraft Undated
5/16 "B-24's on a Mission" Undated
5/17 Three Photos: B-24 Going Down and Crash in France Undated
5/18 Two photos of P-38 Aircraft Undated
5/19 Thirteen Photos of Aircraft in Formation Undated
5/20 Nine Photos of Jimmy Stewart, Movie Actor Undated
5/21 Three Photos of Smoke Screen Used by the Germans to Camouflage Targets Undated
5/22 Two Photos of Incendiary Bombs Undated
5/23 Six Photos of Vapor Trails Undated
5/24 Ketteringtor Hall, Headquarter of 2nd Air Division, 8th Air Force, Norwich, U.K. Undated
5/25 50th Anniversary Booklet, Boeing B-17 Flying Fortress Undated
5/26 Photo of P-39 “only fighter plane U.S. had at time of Pearl Harbor” Undated
5/27 Dorothy Ann Undated
6/1 WWII Aerial Damage Photos Undated
6/2 Invasion of Normandy 1944 June 6
6/3 Photo of WWII after the Surrender, Inspection of a German Airdrome for Damage, Photo of Smoking Damage, Aerial Photo of City Undated
6/4 Photo of Gliders, WWII Damage, Aerial Photo, Airbase Photo Undated
6/5 Photo of C-47, Distance Plane Photo, Aerial Photo Undated
6/6 Christmas Photos on Base, Aerial Photo, Plane Take-off Undated
6/7 Photos of Motor Pool and Drivers, Damage Photos Undated
6/8 Visit from General “Hap” Arnold, Miscellaneous Aerial Views Undated
6/9 Photos of Awards Ceremony, Inspection of the MPs, Photo of B-24 and Crew Undated
6/10 Photo of Tail of AB24, American Troops in Holland Behind Fleeing German Troops, Dropping Supplies Undated
6/11 Photos of Damage after the Surrender WWII, Miscellaneous Damage Photos Undated
6/12 Ball Bearing Plant in Germany, Taxi to the Runway for a Trip over Germany Undated
6/13 German V-2 Rockets, Bomb Centers in England Undated
6/14 80th Bomb Division, 317 Bomb Squad, W.W. Army Air Base, Boardman Bombing Range, Practice Bombing 1942
6/15 Walla Walla Army Air Base, Combat Crew #440 Undated
6/16 Army Air Base Photos Undated
6/17 Walla Walla Air Base, B-25 Mitchell, Accompanying Letter from Alfred McVay to Sergeant W. M. Mack 1943
6/18 B-17 Crash on Blue Mountains Undated
6/19 Base Photo Section Building and Crew Undated
6/20 Walla Walla Photographers and Photos in Blue Mountains Undated
6/21 George Montgomery (Actor) and His Mother in front of C-47, Walla Walla 1943
6/22 Ann Southern (Actress) at McCaw Hospital, Walla Walla 1943
6/23 Walla Walla Baseball Game and Accompanying Newspaper Clips 1943 June
6/24 Aircraft Insignia Undated
6/25 Walla Walla at Retreat, Wallace Gendron in Publicity Shot with Two Women and One Sailor, with Accompanying Letter 1943
6/26 Walla Walla Air Base, Newspaper Articles, 1943, 1991, 1992 Various dates
6/27 General Peck, Commanding Officer of Walla Walla Air Base 1943
6/28 James Cagney in Walla Walla Undated
6/29 Walla Walla Base Chapel Undated
6/30 Trainer, Walla Walla Air Base Undated
6/31 Walla Walla Retreat, Ten Photos Undated
6/32 Walla Walla Mill Creek Picnic Undated
6/33 B-17 and Crew, Walla Walla Undated
6/34 Walla Walla Aircrafts Undated
6/35 Walla Walla USO Dance, Five Photos Undated
6/36 Walla Walla Sign Regarding Hitler Undated
6/37 Walla Walla Exploding Bomb 1943 April 26
6/38 Awarding of Purple Heart, Walla Walla Undated
6/39 Firing Range, Mill Creek Circa 1940
6/40 Suzy-Q, Airplane at Walla Walla, with Boeing News Article 1943 March 24
7/1 England: Volleyball, One-man Suli, Norwich, Tea Time, King’s College, John Touchette Undated
7/2 Lyons Property, Mill Creek Undated
7/3 Wally Gendron, Sergeant Phil Lipmon, and unidentified soldier Undated
7/4 State Capitol of Colorado Undated
7/5 Performance and Dance for the Army Undated
7/6 "The Circular Spectrum" Undated
7/7 Bomber Formation on Its Way to Target in Germany Undated
7/8 Norwich Castle 1943 December 22
7/9 English Showgirls Sitting on the Wing of a P-51 Undated
7/10 Second Air Division Office Personnel (3 Photos) Undated
7/11 Buckingham Palace, England Undated
7/12 Inspection at a Bomber Group Base Undated
7/13 Photo Crew, Second Air Division, "Two Years Together," England Undated
7/14 English Boy Adopted as the Mascot of the Second Air Division Undated
7/15 General Kepner Honoring a Local Dame, with the Second Air Division Choir Undated
7/16 Oil Refinery in Germany Undated
7/17 Airplane Crash Undated
7/18 St. Paul Cathedral Undated
7/19 Aerial Photo Showing Damage to France 1944 January 14
7/20 D-Day: Gliders Towed into France to Cut off German Supplies to Normandy Undated
7/21 German Air Field Undated
7/22 Photo Reconnaissance after Mission 1944 March
7/23 General Hodges with Staff Undated
7/24 Portrait Photos of Major Edwin Reid and General Jimmie Doolittle Undated
7/25 Tea Time Truck, England (with negative) Undated
7/26 B-24 Shot Down Over Hamburg, Germany (3 Photos) Undated
7/27 Preparing a New Assignment Undated
7/28 Gotha, Germany, Home of the Leica Camera Factory Undated
7/29 German Air Field, France Undated
7/30 Oil Field and Refinery in Ploiesti, Romania Undated
7/31 Bombing Berlin Undated
7/32 German Fighter Squadron Field Near the Coast Undated
7/33 B-24 Shot Down in France (3 Photos) Undated
7/34 Aerial Photograph of Damages to Hermmigstedt, Karlsruhe, Nordhausen, and Other Unidentified Cities Undated
7/35 At the Race Tracks Undated
7/36 Party for "Beaver Bill" Undated
7/37 Officer at Lowry Air Base, Denver Colorado 1942
7/38 Walla Walla Airbase Church 1943
7/39 Orphans, England 1941
7/40 Aerial Photographs of Damages to Ploiesti, Romania (19 Photos) Undated
7/41 Soldiers Marching Through the Streets of England Undated
7/42 Soldiers Receiving Medals at Decoration Ceremony Undated
7/43 Officers Receiving Medals at Base Undated
7/44 Major Cassidy, Captain Florence, and 5 Unidentified Officers Undated
7/45 Totem Pole Undated
7/46 1942 Penna Ford Undated
7/47 Armament Laboratory, Wooden Door Undated
7/48 Western Flight Training Commander’s Twins, Roswell N. M. Air Base 1946
7/49 A Soldier’s Wedding Undated
7/50 Photographs of Paintings Undated
7/51 Abandoned Pottery Shop Undated
7/52 Schawillie and Redmand Leading Their Cameras 1943 April 5
7/53 Franklyn Stokes, New Haven, Connecticut Undated
7/54 Stock Yards, Horshem, England Undated
7/55 P. 39 Bell Air Cobra, Lowry Field, Denver, Colorado Undated
7/56 Typical Payday at the Second Air Division Undated
7/57 Tea Time, England Undated
7/58 Lt. McCormick from Colorado Springs Undated
7/59 Taking Time Off to Help a Local Farmer 1944
7/60 Press Box, Football Game, England Undated
7/61 "The Boys in the Photo Lab" and Major, Head of the Photo Lab Undated
7/62 England: Max Melcher, Christmas Time at the Local Orphanage, Taking the Orphan Kids on an Outing, London Undated
7/63 England: Honor Guard, General Doolittle on a Visit, English WACs Undated
7/64 Neighborhood Damaged by War, Belgium Undated
7/65 A G.I. Wedding in England Undated
7/66 Captain Hawkins Inspecting an Underground Storage Unit After a Raid, France Undated
7/67 Inspection at Kettringham Hall 1943
7/68 B-77 Model, with Explanation and Description Undated
7/69 Ketteringham Hall Floor Plan Undated
7/70 England: St. Theresa’s Church, Norwich, London, Flixton Estate, King’s College, etc. 1943
7/71 Mt. Rushmore National Memorial Undated
7/72 Johnny Touchett and Wallace Gendron, Base Photo Undated
7/73 Blue Mountains, Walla Walla 1943
7/74 "Coming Home," Black Forest, Germany Undated
7/75 Combat Crew #109, Walla Walla Army Air Force 1945 March 14
7/76 Walla Walla Air Base 1943 April 7
7/77 Interior of Kitchen in the Mess Hall Undated
7/78 Air Force Insignia Undated
7/79 Upper Mill Creek Undated

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Series 3:  Unidentified Photographs; Gendron’s Magazines, Postcards, Identifications, and Ephemera, 1942-1976
1 linear foot  :  2 boxes
Container(s)
Description
Dates
Box/Folder
8/1 Unidentified Photos of Officers Undated
8/2 Unidentified Photos of Officers (continued) Undated
8/3 Unidentified Scenery Photos Undated
8/4 Unidentified Scenery Photos (continued) Undated
8/5 Unidentified Photos of a Party Undated
8/6 Unidentified Aerial Photos Undated
8/7 Unidentified Negatives Undated
9/1 Postcards: Westminster Abbey: The Unknown Warrior Grave, Westminster Abbey, Westminster Abbey: King Henry VII’s Chapel, Westminster Abbey: Wolfe Monument, Bridge Hotel at Potter Heigham, "So We’ll Meet Again" Undated
9/2 American Flag Band Undated
9/3 History of the Second World War, Published by Marshall Cavendish, Part 1 (2 copies) 1973
9/4 History of the Second World War, Published by Marshall Cavendish, Part 2 (2 copies) 1973
9/5 History of the Second World War, Published by Marshall Cavendish, Part 3 (2 copies) 1973
9/6 History of the Second World War, Published by Marshall Cavendish, Part 4 (2 copies) 1973
9/7 World War II: The 8th AF Strikes (2 copies) 1975 January
9/8 Target Germany: A Marshall Cavendish World War II Special No. 4 1976
9/9 Gendron's Identifications: Motor Vehicle Operator’s Permit, Tobacco Ration Card, Restricted Area Pass, Bondholder Certificate, Permanent Pass Class A, Mammoth Garden Roller Skating Club Membership Card, Disabled American Veterans 1943-1949
9/10 Miniature Postcards Re: Walla Walla 1942

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Series 4:  Army Air Base Records, Walla Walla, WA , 1941-1944
1 linear foot  :  2 boxes
Container(s)
Description
Dates
Box
10 Army Air Base File #000-800 1941-1942
11 Army Air Base File #600 Misc. 1943-1944

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Series 5:  Oversized Maps and Photographs, 1941-1944

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Subjects

  • Gendron, Wallace -- Archives.

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Subjects

  • Second Air Division, United States Army Air Force

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Subjects

  • World War, 1939-1945

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Subjects